After dropping three of four very winnable games, the Toronto Raptors saw their hard work pay off last time out.

Coach Dwane Casey believes his last-place team still has a chance to get back into contention with similar efforts going forward.

The Raptors look for their momentum to carry over Saturday night as they go for a seventh win in nine matchups against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.

Toronto (16-27) entered Thursday's game at Orlando mired in a 1-5 skid, with the last three of those losses each going to overtime. The Raptors nearly found themselves in another extra session before DeMar DeRozan made a game-winning fadeaway jumper as time expired, giving Toronto a 97-95 victory and a four-game season sweep.

"It does a lot," DeRozan, who finished with 22 points, said of the win. "Especially going back home, get ready to play Saturday. It does a lot for us. We understand we've been playing well for the last couple games, and we're just trying to get better, to get W's."

While Toronto surrendered an average of 102.6 points in winning just four of its first 23 games, it's since yielded 96.5 in going 12-8. The Raptors still have a ways to go if they hope to contend, sitting four games back of Boston for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot, but they appear to be headed in the right direction.

"Down the stretch everybody's questioned our toughness and how tough we are," Casey said. "I've seen resolve and toughness the last couple of weeks. And for anybody who doesn't feel like we're in this to win it, they are totally wrong.

"These guys are competing their butts off, have been every game. Whether it's my fault, or whoever's fault it is, they have been competing. That's one thing you can't question."

The Raptors have more than held their own in this series of late, allowing 91.8 points per game during their 6-2 run. Jose Calderon scored a season-high 23 on 10-of-15 shooting as Toronto pulled out a 113-99 road win over Cleveland on Dec. 18.

Sitting at the bottom of the Central Division, the Cavaliers (12-32) have also picked up the pace of late. Cleveland shot a season-high 52.3 percent and erased a 20-point, third-quarter deficit in Friday's 113-108 win over Milwaukee, its third victory in four games.

Kyrie Irving, who had 40 points three nights earlier in a 95-90 win over Boston, scored 35 against the Bucks.

"He's a hell of a young player," coach Byron Scott said of Irving, the No. 1 overall pick in 2011. "When we drafted him we knew that."

Named Thursday as a reserve in next month's All-Star game, Irving is averaging 31.0 points and shooting 56.5 percent over his last four contests, a stretch during which he's made all 22 of his free-throw attempts.

"The second half (of the season) is real important for us. The wins, that's the main attitude right now, is just getting wins," said Irving, who scored 23 against the Raptors in December.

"These last couple games have been fun, and I've said it to the guys multiple times, even in practice, our whole moral, we just know when to be focused and when it's time to dial in."

Marreese Speights, acquired from Memphis in a four-player trade Tuesday, had 10 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench in his team debut.

"That's the great thing about him. ... Mo really did a heck of a job of communicating and talking tonight, and that's something I didn't know about him," Scott said.

Not going to be an easy game. Irving has gone ape-shit of late.... but then again he IS an All-Star after all.

This game is also going to be a nice battle of rebuilding styles. Forever linked as the teams LBJ and to a much lesser extent Bosh left to join Wade in Miami, the paths the teams have taken in rebuilding are night and day. I wish, based on the building, I was a Cavs fan, I am envious, however I am not - GO RAPS!

Canadian Forces night at the ACC. Not sure how many jerseys were given out but a family member of mine got a signed DD camo jersey. Sent me a pic, pretty cool.

Sat Jan 26th, 2013, 02:09 PM

connected

Quote:

Matt52 wrote:

ESPN Preview:
Canadian Forces night at the ACC. Not sure how many jerseys were given out but a family member of mine got a signed DD camo jersey. Sent me a pic, pretty cool.

Do you know how he got the jersey?
Will it be for people showing up early to tonight's game?

Sat Jan 26th, 2013, 02:16 PM

BasketballCrush

Last time we had the camo jerseys Andrea was on court and we got shell shocked.

Not going to be an easy game. Irving has gone ape-shit of late.... but then again he IS an All-Star after all.

This game is also going to be a nice battle of rebuilding styles. Forever linked as the teams LBJ and to a much lesser extent Bosh left to join Wade in Miami, the paths the teams have taken in rebuilding are night and day. I wish, based on the building, I was a Cavs fan, I am envious, however I am not - GO RAPS!

Canadian Forces night at the ACC. Not sure how many jerseys were given out but a family member of mine got a signed DD camo jersey. Sent me a pic, pretty cool.

I'm with you on that one Matt. Cleveland will be SO good in the future. Irving, Waiters, Gee, Thompson, Zeller, and more picks to come... They have so much potential, especially they've already answered their 'face of the franchise' question.

Sat Jan 26th, 2013, 03:53 PM

mcHAPPY

Quote:

RaptorReuben wrote:

I'm with you on that one Matt. Cleveland will be SO good in the future. Irving, Waiters, Gee, Thompson, Zeller, and more picks to come... They have so much potential, especially they've already answered their 'face of the franchise' question.

Don't forget LeBron will be returning in 2014. Adding more fuel to the unfounded speculation fire, it is interesting how the Cavs continue to ignore the SF hole with nothing more than bandaids and patch jobs.

Sat Jan 26th, 2013, 03:54 PM

mcHAPPY

Quote:

connected wrote:

Do you know how he got the jersey?
Will it be for people showing up early to tonight's game?

It was given to him earlier in the week. Has nothing to do with in game attendance. Not quite sure how he got it he just said, "We all got one." I doubt that is the entire Canadian military..... although that really would explain DD's shooting woes of late! Talk about a tired wrist.

Sat Jan 26th, 2013, 04:32 PM

wallz

Quote:

Matt52 wrote:

Don't forget LeBron will be returning in 2014. Adding more fuel to the unfounded speculation fire, it is interesting how the Cavs continue to ignore the SF hole with nothing more than bandaids and patch jobs.

sounds familiar

Sat Jan 26th, 2013, 05:15 PM

Rapstor4Life

I really hate the goddam Camo jerseys I wish they would get rid of them :| so ugly